Ratchet pipe enlarging tool

ABSTRACT

A pipe enlarging tool includes a ratchet mechanism that includes a base securely connected to the threaded rod that has a cone member to enlarge pipes clamped by a chuck assembly in the base of the tool. A ratchet is pivotably connected to the cap and selectively engaged with the toothed inner periphery of the handle which is rotatably mounted to the cap. A knob includes a positioning assembly which biases the ratchet to push one of two toothed ends of the ratchet to engage with the toothed inner periphery of the handle. The handle can be reciprocally operated by the ratchet mechanism to move the threaded rod to enlarge the pipe or to remove the cone member from the pipe.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pipe enlarging tool which includes a ratchet mechanism which allows the user to reciprocally rotate the handle within a small angles to enlarge pipes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional pipe enlarging tool 6 is shown in FIG. 6 and generally includes a base 61 which includes a chuck assembly 62 received in a space defined in an underside thereof and an adjusting threaded rod 63 extends through the base 61 and contacts the chuck assembly 62 so as to move the chuck assembly 62 to clamp a pipe 64. A threaded rod 65 rotatably extends through a threaded hole in a top of the base 61 and a handle 66 is connected to a top end of the threaded rod 65. A cone member 651 is eccentrically connected to a lower end of the threaded rod 65 so that the user may rotate the threaded rod 65 continuously to spin the cone member 651 which enlarges the opening of the pipe 651.

However, the movement of the threaded rod 65 is made by continuously rotating the handle 66 so that it takes a lot of time to rotate the handles 66 whenever moving the cone member 651 downward to enlarge the opening of pipes 64 or moving the cone member 651 upward to remove the cone member 651 from the pipes 64. Furthermore, if the space is not large enough for the handle 66 to rotate a whole revolution, the tool cannot be used.

The present invention intends to provide a pipe enlarging tool that includes a ratchet mechanism so that the user simply rotates the handle small angles to move the cone member up and down.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pipe enlarging tool that comprises a base having a head on a top thereof and a chuck assembly is received in a space in the base. An adjusting rod threadedly extends through a radial threaded hole in the base and contacts the chuck assembly. A first threaded rod extends into the base. A top plate is connected to a top end of the first threaded rod. A second threaded rod threadedly extends through a threaded passage defined axially in the first threaded rod and a cone member is eccentrically connected to a lower end of the second threaded rod.

A ratchet mechanism includes a handle, a cap and a knob. The cap is rested on the top plate and fixedly connected to the second threaded rod. The cap has a central passage and a slot is defined radially through a wall of the cap and communicates with the central passage. A ratchet is pivotably retained in the slot and has two toothed ends. The handle has a hole so as to be rotatably mounted to the cap and a toothed inner periphery is defined in an inner periphery of the hole of the handle. The knob is rotatably engaged with the hole in the handle and has a post which extends into the central passage. A stopper is connected to a lower end of the post to prevent the post from disengaging from the cap. A first positioning assembly is received in a recess in the post and biases the ratchet to push one of the two toothed ends to engage with the toothed inner periphery of the handle.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pipe enlarging tool wherein the cone member can be moved to enlarge the pipe or to be removed from the pipe by reciprocally operating the handle by a ratchet mechanism.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the pipe enlarging tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the pipe enlarging tool of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the pipe enlarging tool of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show that the two toothed ends of the ratchet are selectively engaged with the toothed inner periphery of the handle, and

FIG. 6 shows a conventional pipe enlarging tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the pipe enlarging tool of the present invention comprises a base 1 having a head 11 on a top thereof and a space 14 is defined in an underside of the base 1. A chuck assembly 15 is received in the space 14 and an adjusting rod 16 threadedly extends through a radial threaded hole 141 in the base 14 and contacts the chuck assembly 15 so that when operating the adjusting rod 16, the chuck assembly 15 is moved to clamp a pipe “A” as shown in FIG. 3.

A first threaded rod 12 extends into the base 1 from the top of the base 1 and a lower end of the first threaded rod 12 extends into the space 14. A top plate 120 is connected to a top end of the first threaded rod 12 and a second threaded rod 13 threadedly extends through a threaded passage 121 defined axially in the first threaded rod 12. A notch 122 is defined in a top of the top plate 120. A cone member 131 is eccentrically connected to a lower end of the second threaded rod 13.

The tool includes a ratchet mechanism 2 including a handle 3, a cap 5 and a knob 4. The cap 5 is rested on the top plate 120 and a pin 123 extends through a pin hole 561 defined in the cap 5 and a through hole 130 defined radially through the second threaded rod 13 so as to securely connect the cap 5 and the second threaded rod 13. The cap 5 has a central passage 54 and a slot 52 is defined radially through a wall of the cap 5 and communicates with the central passage 54. A ratchet 55 is pivotably retained in the slot 52 by extending a pin 552 through a top hole 50 in a top of the cap 5 and a hole 550 in a center of the ratchet 55. The ratchet 55 has two toothed ends 551.

The handle 3 has a hole so as to be rotatably mounted to the cap 5 and a bearing 32 is engaged with the hole so that the handle 3 can be rotated relative to the cap 5. A toothed inner periphery 31 is defined in an inner periphery of the hole of the handle 3. The two toothed ends 551 of the ratchet 55 are selectively to be engaged with the toothed inner periphery 31 of the handle 3.

The knob 4 is rotatably engaged with the hole in the handle 3 and has a post 42 which extends into the central passage 54. A stopper 58 is connected to a lower end of the post 42 to prevent the post 42 from disengaging from the cap 5. A recess 422 is defined radially in the post 42 and a first positioning assembly 43 is received in the recess 422. The first positioning assembly 43 biases the ratchet 55 to push one of the two toothed ends 511 to engage with the toothed inner periphery 31 of the handle 3 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The first positioning assembly 43 includes a first spring 431 and a first bead 432 which partially extends out from the recess 422 and contacts the ratchet 55.

The cap 5 further has a receiving hole 562 defined in an underside thereof and a second positioning assembly 57 is received in the receiving hole 562. The second positioning assembly 57 includes a second spring 571 and a second bead 572 which is biased by the second spring 571 and partially extends out from the receiving hole 562. The second bead 572 engaged with a notch 122 defined in a top of the top plate 120. An opening 51 is defined in an outer periphery of the cap 5 and the knob 4 has a lever 44 which is movably engaged with the opening 51.

The user may shifts the lever 44 to choose one of the two toothed ends 511 to engage with the toothed inner periphery 31 of the handle 3. The engagement of each one of the two toothed ends 511 and the toothed inner periphery 31 of the handle 3 decides the direction that the rotation of the handle 3 drives the second threaded rod 13. In other words, the user simply reciprocally operates the handle 3 within a small range of angle, the cone member 131 can be quickly lifted or lowered.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A pipe enlarging tool comprising: a base having a head on a top thereof and a space defined in an underside of the base, a chuck assembly received in the space and an adjusting rod threadedly extending through a radial threaded hole in the base and contacting the chuck assembly; a first threaded rod extending into the base from the top of the base and a lower end of the first threaded rod extending into the space, a top plate connected to a top end of the first threaded rod, a second threaded rod threadedly extending through a threaded passage defined axially in the first threaded rod, a cone member eccentrically connected to a lower end of the second threaded rod, and a ratchet mechanism including a handle, a cap and a knob, the cap rested on the top plate and fixedly connected to the second threaded rod, the cap having a central passage and a slot defined radially through a wall of the cap and communicating with the central passage, a ratchet pivotably retained in the slot and having two toothed ends, the handle having a hole so as to be rotatably mounted to the cap and a toothed inner periphery defined in an inner periphery of the hole of the handle, the knob rotatably engaged with the hole in the handle and having a post which extends into the central passage, a stopper connected to a lower end of the post to prevent the post from disengaging from the cap, a recess defined radially in the post and a first positioning assembly received in the recess, the first positioning assembly biasing the ratchet to push one of the two toothed ends to engage with the toothed inner periphery of the handle.
 2. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first positioning assembly includes a first spring and a first bead which partially extends out from the recess and contacts the ratchet.
 3. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap includes a radial pin hole and a pin extends through the pin hole and a through hole defined radially through the second threaded rod.
 4. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap includes a top hole defined in a top thereof and a pin extends through the top hole and a hole in a center of the ratchet.
 5. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap has a receiving hole defined in an underside thereof and a second positioning assembly is received in the receiving hole, the second positioning assembly includes a second spring and a second bead which is biased by the second spring and partially extends out from the receiving hole, the second bead engaged with a notch defined in a top of the top plate.
 6. The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap includes an opening defined in an outer periphery thereof and the knob 4 has a lever which is movably engaged with the opening. 